Have you ever used your television as a monitor for your computer?  Have you wondered about the possibilities of connecting your PC to your home theater, for watching movies and surfing the web?  These are examples of the natural progression of entertainment technology.  Over the last decade, computers have become much more than word processors and televisions have evolved to sleek, high-definition devices capable of playing media from almost any device with a cable attached to it.  The two are starting to merge into one device, but we are only beginning to see this in the newest displays.

If you have ventured down the “computer+television” path, or are thinking of doing so, one hurdle quickly prevents itself.  How do you control the computer from the couch?  You need an input device of some sort and a keyboard with a super-long cord is really not an option (safety hazard!)  There have been some great wireless keyboard/mice combos released over the last few years, but they are often costly options and are only useful for that one purpose.  At $100 or more, this is not the kind of cost-effective resolution that most are looking for.  So, why not use a device you already have as the solution?  Your smart phone is just the thing and we have a quick rundown on two applications that can get you up and running today!

(more…)